JP2006275965A - Navigation device, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation device, a method and a program capable of selecting an optimum path meeting with a destination of a user, by retrieving and presenting a recommended path, according to the toll of a toll road, when the toll road exists in the set path. <P>SOLUTION: A toll calculation section 47 refers to toll data, regarding the toll road and calculates the toll for traveling on the toll road included in the path for each of the recommended path, when there is a path that includes the toll road in the recommended path. A toll rearrangement section 48 rearranges the plurality of the recommended paths in the ascending order, while having the toll calculated by the toll calculation section 47 as an index. A recommended path display control section 49 collectively displays the recommended paths rearranged in the ascending order of the toll on the screen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation apparatus, method, and program for providing a recommended route according to a toll road charge when a toll road exists on a set route.

  In recent years, navigation devices that have rapidly become popular have a database obtained by quantifying roads, place names, buildings, etc. on a map stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and set a destination based on the digital map database. The taxiway is searched and calculated according to the road database stored in the device in advance, and the obtained vehicle and the vehicle position calculated sequentially from navigation data such as GPS, gyroscope, vehicle speed pulse, etc. are displayed on the screen. In addition, the optimum route to the designated destination is also calculated and guided (navigated) by screen display or synthesized voice.

In such a navigation device, for a plurality of recommended routes from the departure point to the destination, the user calculates the travel time, the travel distance, the number of right / left turns, etc., and displays the information to optimize the user. There are things that allow you to select the correct route.
JP-A-6-249672

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, even when a plurality of recommended routes are searched based on information such as travel time, travel distance, general roads, or toll roads, the toll roads are included when the toll roads are included in the route. There was no one that searched for a route based on the charge when passing the road.

  In addition, although the recommended route is searched for each item such as travel time and mileage, since the content of the recommended route is not displayed on the screen collectively based on one value criterion, It was difficult to select whether the route was the optimal route that met his purpose.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and its purpose is to search and present a recommended route according to the toll road charge when a toll road exists on the set route. Another object of the present invention is to provide a navigation device, method, and program that enable selection of an optimum route that matches a user's purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a navigation device that performs navigation processing of an optimal route to a destination using a map database based on a map database using a computer or an electronic circuit. When a toll road is included in the recommended route to the destination, based on the toll road fee data, fee calculation means for calculating the toll road fee in the recommended route, and the calculated recommended route And a route display control unit configured to display the recommended routes arranged in the order of the fee in order of the fee.

  The invention of claim 5 captures the invention of claim 1 from the viewpoint of the method, and uses the computer or electronic circuit to perform the navigation processing of the optimum route to the destination based on the map database. In the navigation method to be used, when a toll road is included in the recommended route to the destination, based on the toll road fee data, a fee calculation process for calculating the toll road fee on the recommended route; A process of arranging the recommended routes in order of charges based on the calculated fee and a route display control process of displaying the recommended routes arranged in order of the charges in order of fee are executed.

  The invention of claim 9 captures the inventions of claims 1 and 4 from the viewpoint of a computer program, and the navigation processing of the optimum route to the destination is controlled based on the map database by controlling the computer. In the navigation program performed using the database, when a toll road is included in the recommended route to the destination, the toll road fee on the recommended route is calculated based on the toll road fee data, and the recommended route is calculated. The routes are arranged in order of charges based on the calculated charges, and the recommended routes arranged in the order of charges are displayed in order of charges.

  In the above aspects, when a toll road is included in the route, the route is searched based on the fee when passing through the toll road, and displayed in order of the fee after being rearranged based on the fee The user can determine the route according to a clearer value criterion.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the route display control means displays the recommended routes arranged in the order of the charges by an input operation from a user.

  The invention of claim 6 captures the invention of claim 1 from the viewpoint of the method, and in the invention of claim 5, the route display control processing is arranged in the order of the charges by an input operation from a user. The recommended route is displayed.

  The invention of claim 10 captures the inventions of claims 2 and 6 from the viewpoint of a computer program. In the invention of claim 9, the method for displaying the route in order of fee is based on an input operation from a user. The recommended routes arranged in order of price are displayed.

  In the above aspect, when toll roads are included in a plurality of recommended routes, whether or not these routes are displayed in order of toll can be displayed by the user's input operation, so that a route can be displayed according to the user's purpose and taste.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, the means for arranging the toll roads in order of toll is arranged in ascending order of toll.

  The invention of claim 7 captures the invention of claim 1 from the viewpoint of the method, and in the invention of claim 5 or 6, the processing of arranging the toll roads in order of toll is arranged in ascending order of toll. It is characterized by that.

  The invention of claim 11 captures the inventions of claims 3 and 7 from the viewpoint of a computer program. In the invention of claim 9 or 10, the method of arranging the toll roads in order of tolls It is characterized by being arranged.

  In the above aspect, when the user gives priority to cost over distance and time, it is possible to provide rational route candidates that match the user's wishes, and the user can easily select a route. become able to.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the invention, the fee data includes a table including each vehicle type and a fee for each section from each entrance to each exit on the toll road for each vehicle type. The charge calculation means calculates the charge of the toll road on the recommended route with reference to the table.

  The invention according to claim 8 captures claim 4 from the viewpoint of a method, and in the invention according to any one of claims 5 to 7, the fee data includes each vehicle type and each vehicle type. And a toll for each section from each entrance to each exit on the toll road, wherein the toll calculation processing calculates the toll for the toll road on the recommended route with reference to the table. To do.

  The invention of claim 12 captures the inventions of claims 4 and 8 from the viewpoint of a computer program. In the inventions of claims 9 to 11, the toll data includes each vehicle type and a toll road for each vehicle type. A table including a charge for each section from each entrance to each exit above, and the method for calculating the charge is to calculate a charge for the toll road on the recommended route with reference to the table. Features.

  In the above aspects, by providing a fee table according to the vehicle type, it is possible to provide the recommended route more accurately, and by asking the user for the vehicle type in advance, all the fees for each vehicle type are calculated. However, it is possible to select a rational route without the need to display all of them.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when there is a toll road on the set route, the optimum route that matches the user's purpose is searched for and presented according to the toll road fee. It is possible to provide a navigation device, a method, and a program that enable selection of a route.

  Next, a navigation device according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “the present device”), a corresponding navigation method, and a best mode for carrying out the program will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the assumptions common to the prior art already described are not restated.

[1. Constitution]
[1-1. overall structure]
This device is an in-vehicle navigation device and includes the following elements shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. That is, an absolute position / azimuth detector 1 including a GPS antenna and a receiver, a relative azimuth detector 2 using a gyro and the like, and a vehicle speed detector 3 for processing a pulse obtained from a vehicle are used for navigation data for navigation. It is a sensor group to obtain. The disk control unit 12 is a drive such as a hard disk, a DVD-ROM, or a CD-ROM, and plays a role of reading a road map data database using road links, and provides information from a server via a mobile phone (so-called off-state). Board).

  The processing unit 4 is a main CPU that controls the entire system and its peripheral circuits, and performs navigation processing including calculation of the current position based on navigation data obtained from the sensor groups (1 to 3) and map matching. This is a part that uses data.

  Of the memory M, the ROM 5 stores a program for the CPU of the processing unit 4, the DRAM (dynamic RAM) 6 stores data processed by the CPU, and the SRAM (static RAM) 7 Information such as settings is backed up by the battery even when the main power is turned off, and a VRAM (video RAM) 8 is used for writing a bit pattern of an image displayed on the display unit 10.

  The display unit 10 is a part for displaying information such as a map and a menu, and is a TFT liquid crystal panel, for example. The input unit 11 is a part that receives input of various commands and information from the user, and is a switch or a touch panel, for example. The user interface unit 9 is a part that connects the display unit 10 or the input unit 11 and the processing unit 4 to perform signal transmission, conversion, timing control, and the like.

  The FM multiplex reception and processing unit 13 is a part that receives FM broadcast waves and extracts desired data such as traffic information of the VICS service from the broadcast waves. The traffic information includes traffic jam information. The optical / radio wave beacon reception and processing unit 14 is a part that receives and processes information such as identification information of each beacon and traffic information of the VICS service from an optical beacon or a radio beacon installed on a shoulder or the like.

[1-2. Role of main CPU and its peripheral circuits]
The main CPU and its peripheral circuit 4 are configured to realize the roles of the following parts shown in FIG. 1 by the operation of the program as described above. That is, the current position calculation unit 41 is a means for sequentially calculating the own vehicle position, and specifically, is configured to calculate the own vehicle position by combining GPS navigation positioning and autonomous navigation positioning. .

  Here, in GPS navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained by the absolute position / orientation detection unit 1 based on radio waves from an artificial satellite. In the autonomous navigation positioning, the current position is calculated using information obtained from the relative bearing detection unit 2 and the vehicle speed detection unit 3 based on the geomagnetism and the speed of the host vehicle.

  The destination receiving unit 42 is a means for receiving a destination designation, that is, an input by searching for a facility from a database in which the road map data is recorded or by specifying a cursor on the map. The route setting unit 43 calculates a route from the current position detected by the current position calculation unit 41 to the destination specified by the destination reception unit 42 based on the road map data, and obtains the result. It is a means for setting a given route.

  The guidance control unit 44 is a means for controlling guidance guidance by determining elements to be displayed in the route, elements such as blinking emphasis, and using combined speech. Based on the calculated vehicle position, route and road map data, the map display unit 45 displays a map around the vehicle position or a map displayed in a wide area on the display unit 10 in a three-dimensional display or other manner. It is.

  The charge rearrangement setting confirmation unit 46 determines whether or not the recommended route display setting of the present apparatus is set so that the display order of the recommended route is rearranged based on the charge of the toll road included in the recommended route. It is a means to confirm. For example, in the setting screen of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 2, the user selects the “reorder toll route” button in advance, and the recommended route display setting of the apparatus is arranged on the basis of the toll road charge. This is to check whether it is set to change.

  In the present embodiment, the toll road means all roads that can collect tolls from users when passing and using them, and is not limited to so-called general toll roads, but also expressways. Etc. are also widely included.

  When it is confirmed that the recommended route display setting of the apparatus is set to sort based on the toll road fee, the fee calculating unit 47 includes a route including the toll road in the recommended route. In this case, it is a means for referring to toll road data related to toll roads and calculating a travel toll for traveling on a toll road included in the route for each recommended route.

  Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the charge data is prepared for each vehicle type such as a normal car, a medium-sized car, and a large-sized car by collecting charge data for each entrance / exit of the toll road. It is possible to calculate the charge by using them together. Also, even if you do not use a toll table for each entrance as described above, a toll table corresponding to the distance of each toll road is also prepared for each vehicle type, including toll roads in the route obtained as a result of route calculation It is also possible to calculate the fee by determining the distance to be applied and applying it to this fee table.

  The fee data may be stored in a hard disk, DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, or other drive in the disk control unit 12 of the apparatus, or may be stored in an external database server via the communication device and the processing unit 13. It is also possible to download and use the latest fee data as needed. As for the vehicle type of the user, a method of registering in advance as an initial setting of the apparatus, a method of obtaining a vehicle type selection every time a fee is calculated, a method of changing only when the user is requested to change the vehicle type setting, etc. Either method is possible. As a result, for example, when the user changes to a vehicle of another vehicle type, when the device is an off-board type consisting of a mobile terminal or the like, or when acting in multiple groups, When searching for a route of another vehicle, the charge rearrangement search of this device can be used.

  The charge rearrangement unit 48 is a means for rearranging a plurality of recommended routes using, for example, the charges calculated by the charge calculation unit 47 as an index. The recommended route display control unit 49 collectively displays the recommended routes rearranged in the order of the charges by the fee rearrangement unit 48 on the screen via the display unit 10 as shown in the screen example of FIG. It is means to do.

[2. Action]
Details of the processing according to the present embodiment as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the destination is set in the destination receiving unit 42 (S1), and the route setting unit 43 calculates a guide route from the current position to the destination. For example, as shown in FIG. A plurality of recommended routes (1) to (4) are calculated (S2).

  Next, the rearrangement setting confirmation unit 46 confirms whether or not the recommended route display setting of this apparatus is set to rearrange the charges (S3). If it is not set (NO), the recommended route display control unit 49 displays a normal route selection screen and a charge rearrangement button as shown in FIG. 4A (S10). . Then, on this screen, it is confirmed whether or not the charge sorting button is selected (S11). In this case, when the charge rearrangement button is not selected and the route selection button ("route 1" to "route 4" in FIG. 4A) is selected (NO in S11), the route setting unit 43 selects it. The route is set, and route guidance is started (S8).

  On the other hand, when the charge rearrangement is set (YES in S3), the charge calculation unit 47 calculates the charge for each recommended route (S4). Specifically, it is calculated by applying the entrance and exit of the toll road included in the route to the toll road data table for each entrance and exit of the toll road shown in FIG. In this state, as shown in the image diagram of FIG. 3B, the order of the recommended route is not limited to the charge as in the normal recommended route display, and the required time, the number of roads to the destination or the number of turns And so on.

  Next, the charge rearranging unit 48 rearranges the recommended routes in order of the charges based on the calculated charges (S5). Then, the recommended route display control unit 49 displays the recommended routes rearranged in order of charges on the display unit 10 (S6). The state is shown in FIG. As is apparent from a comparison between FIGS. 5A and 5B, after the rearrangement process, “Route 1” to “Route 4” are arranged in the order of toll road charges, and the fee required for each route, The entrance name to be used is displayed.

  In such a screen, the route setting unit 43 checks whether or not a route has been selected (S7). If a route is selected, the route setting unit 43 sets the route to the route, and the guidance control unit 44 and the map display unit. In 45, route guidance is started (S8), and the processing is ended (END).

[3. effect]
According to the present embodiment as described above, when a toll road is included in a plurality of recommended routes, the route is searched based on the fee when passing through the toll road, etc., and rearranged based on the fee. In addition, since they are displayed in order of price, the user can determine the route according to a clearer value criterion.

  When the route includes a toll road, whether or not to display the route in order of toll can be set by the recommended route display setting by the user, so that the route can be displayed in accordance with the purpose and taste of the user.

  In addition, since the recommended route can be arranged in the order of cheaper tolls on the toll road, if the user prioritizes cost over distance or time, a reasonable route that matches the user's wishes can be arranged. Candidates can be provided, and the user can easily select a route.

  In addition, by providing a fee table according to the vehicle type as fee data, it is possible to provide the recommended route more accurately, and by requesting the user to input the vehicle type in advance, all fees for each vehicle type are calculated. Therefore, it is possible to select a rational route without the need to display all of them.

[4. Other Embodiments]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Other embodiments which are illustrated next are included. In the above embodiment, the route selection button in which the recommended routes shown in FIG. 5B are rearranged in the order of the charges displays the fee required for each recommended route and the entrance / exit information of the toll road to be used. For example, it is also possible to display information for reference when the user selects a route, such as the distance on the route, the required time, and the number of right / left turns, on the selection button.

The functional block diagram which shows the structure of embodiment of this invention. The example of a screen of the recommendation route display setting in the embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows an example of the charge data in embodiment of this invention. The screen example (a) in the normal display setting in embodiment of this invention, and the screen example (b) after charge rearrangement. The flowchart which shows the process of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Absolute position and direction detection part 2 ... Relative direction detection part 3 ... Vehicle speed detection part 4 ... Processing part (Main CPU and its peripheral circuit)
5 ... ROM
6. Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
7. Static RAM (SRAM)
8 ... Video RAM (VRAM)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... User interface part 10 ... Display part 11 ... Input part 12 ... Disk control part 14 ... Communication apparatus and processing part 20 ... External storage device 21 ... Portable terminal 41 ... Current position calculation part 42 ... Destination reception part 43 ... Path setting Unit 44 ... Guidance control unit 45 ... Map display unit 46 ... Setting confirmation unit 47 ... Charge calculation unit 48 ... Charge rearrangement unit 49 ... Recommended route display control unit

Claims (12)

In a navigation device that uses a computer or electronic circuit to perform navigation processing of an optimal route to a destination based on a map database using the map database,
When a toll road is included in the recommended route to the destination, based on the toll road fee data, a fee calculating means for calculating the toll road fee in the recommended route;
Means for arranging the recommended routes in order of charges based on the calculated charges;
A navigation device comprising: route display control means for displaying the recommended routes arranged in order of the fee in order of fee.   The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the route display control means displays the recommended routes arranged in the order of the charges by an input operation from a user.   The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for arranging the toll roads in order of toll is arranged in ascending order of toll. The fee data consists of a table including each vehicle type and a fee for each section from each entrance to each exit on the toll road for each vehicle type,
The navigation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the toll calculation means calculates a toll road charge on the recommended route with reference to the table. In a navigation method using a computer or electronic circuit to perform a navigation process of an optimum route to a destination based on a map database using the map database,
A charge calculation process for calculating a charge for the toll road in the recommended route based on the charge data of the toll road when a toll road is included in the recommended route to the destination;
Arranging the recommended routes in order of price based on the calculated price;
And a route display control process for displaying the recommended routes arranged in the order of the charges in the order of the charges.   The navigation method according to claim 5, wherein the route display control process displays the recommended routes arranged in the order of the charges by an input operation from a user.   The navigation method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the process of arranging the toll roads in order of tolls is to arrange the toll roads in ascending order of tolls. The fee data consists of a table including each vehicle type and a fee for each section from each entrance to each exit on the toll road for each vehicle type,
The navigation method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the toll calculation processing calculates a toll road charge on the recommended route with reference to the table. In a navigation program that uses the map database to perform navigation processing of the optimal route to the destination based on the map database by controlling the computer,
When a toll road is included in the recommended route to the destination, based on the toll road fee data, the toll road fee in the recommended route is calculated,
The recommended routes are arranged in order of price based on the calculated price,
A navigation program for displaying the recommended routes arranged in the order of the charges in the order of the charges.   The navigation program according to claim 9, wherein the method of displaying the routes in the order of charges is to display the recommended routes arranged in the order of the charges by an input operation from a user.   The navigation program according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the method of arranging the toll roads in order of tolls is to arrange the toll roads in ascending order of tolls. The fee data consists of a table including each vehicle type and a fee for each section from each entrance to each exit on the toll road for each vehicle type,
The navigation program according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the method of calculating the toll is to calculate a toll road charge on the recommended route with reference to the table.

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